Best BJJ Rash Guards 2017

Before there were rash guards there were just oversized dirty smelly cotton shirts that were heavy and always somehow sort of yellow. Then rashguards appeared on the scene and suddenly every grappling and wrestler got five times cooler.

Rash guards not only look slick but they keep everything tight against you. You aren’t bogged down by sweat and feel faster. Over the years I’ve probably gone through about fifty rash guards and despite receiving and winning tons of high quality gear I can say that the stuff I like the best aren’t always the most expensive brand name shit.

The Best Old School BJJ Rash Guard

For those who have been doing BJJ for a while you might remember the “Howard” gi. It was an oversized behemoth of a gi that had a collar so big you were basically unchoke-able unless your opponent had hulk-sized hands.

Well like the Howard I can say that I’m a bit biased towards the more simply rashguards. No of that fancy shit of some ninja warrior dancing around on the front.

If you are looking for the best Brazilian or wrestling rash guard there are a couple things to remember:

How to Choose the Best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Wrestling Rash Guard

White is a bad idea.

Just don’t do it. You don’t need a white rashguard it’s not a good choice. Not only will you eventually spill your protein shake all over it making it permanentely brown, it will eventually become so sweat-stained it will turn yellow. Go for a darker color.

Go for a mixture of polyester and spandex

The elasticity of these flexible materials make them an ideal choice. They also help if you suddenly put on ten pounds of muscle or fat.

I’ve seen too many guys buy the cheapest rash guards at Wal-Mart or Sportsmart. While they may be only $9.99 they won’t last long. A good quality rash guard will be able to last you years, so you may as well invest some money into it.

Understand that cool decals will peel

You might some something sweet on the front, like a panther killing a shark or some “fighting” related words on the back like: Rage, Destroy, Honor, Strength or some unknown Chinese character you hope represents one of those ideas but you need to know that it will eventually fade and you’ll be left with a half peeled design that leaves you constantly explaining to everyone …..it was a panther. Just stick with something simple.

Don’t get that stupid tuxedo Rash Guard.

Just don’t. It’s not cool, you aren’t Jeff Glover.

My Top 4 Rash Guard Reviews for Best MMA and Jiu Jitsu Rash Guards

With that aside below are my 4 top picks for best rash guards. If they aren’t cool enough well then, screw you. However I’ve used all of these and I can tell you they work well.

Hayabusa Metaru 47 Silver Rashguard Short Sleeve Shirt

This thing is badass. Not only do you look like a Star Trek officer, it’s extremely high quality. I’ve worn mine through countless wrestling practices and it can take a beating. The best part about this rash guard is it’s made of a special anti-microbial material, this stops you from getting skin infections and also smelling terrible.

I’m not sure what size will work for you, but it’s tight. If you’re a big guy you should opt for the larger size. And no, it won’t shrink – at least mine didn’t. It uses what they call flatlock stiching and fiber-fused graphics to prevent chafing and provides a ton of durability.

Here are a couple of quick takeaways:

Anti-microbial

Highly durable

Won’t cause chaffing

Pretty inexpensive

Hayabusa Metaru 47 Silver Rashguard Short Sleeve Shirt

The best part about this rash guard is it’s made of a special anti-microbial material, this stops you from getting skin infections and also smelling terrible.

Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Armour Short Sleeve Compression Shirt

While a lot of people might steer away from this because it isn’t “BJJ gear” let me tell you UnderArmor gear is the shit. I’ve trained with Olympic level wrestlers and judo players who swear by it, it’s not just a name brand – it’s exceptional quality.

The Heat Gear shirt is great for grappling and also comes in a long-sleeve version. It’s made from 84% Polyester and 15% Elastane, which allows for a ton of flexibility and durability.

The underarm panel comes with stretch-mesh fabric that allows for what they call “strategic ventilation”. It’s also UV protected for those who want to train outside.

The best thing about Elastane material is that you can stretch it in all 4 directions without any tension being created. This fabric also dries extremely quickly.

Quick takeaways:

Ultra fast to dry

EXTREMELY durable

Affordable

Very flexible

Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Armour Short Sleeve Compression Shirt

While a lot of people might steer away from this because it isn’t “BJJ gear” let me tell you UnderArmor gear is the shit. I’ve trained with Olympic level wrestlers and judo players who swear by it, it’s not just a name brand – it’s exceptional quality.

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